July 2008 Archives

If your dog bites you, perhaps while making your Dog Whisperer submission video, it’s important not to take it personally. We may think the reason we were bitten or growled at is because they’re trying hurt us. But dogs don’t rationalize.

If a dog bites, pulls, or does something I don’t agree with it, I don’t take it personally. By keeping calm and neutral, I am able to come up with solutions. If I let it get to me and get into a “fight, flight, or avoidance” state of mind, it doesn’t help me or the dog I'm working with.

A dog naturally commits himself to his owner through his loyalty, body, mind, and heart and he expects nothing less from you. In my experience, many parents get dogs for their kids because it’s a rush; an impulse buy. Relationships based on impulses rarely work out, and somebody usually gets hurt.

So when my son Andre wanted a dog of his own, I wanted him to understand that Apollo, a Rottweiler, needs and knows commitment. The dog trusted him and viewed him in a leadership position. When I heard Andre saying “I want this guy,” it was not just “I want a shirt or jeans.” Andre was saying “I want him as a friend because I can relate to him.”

When you raise your children, you know everything about them. You know when they are serious and when they are joking. To me this was a serious declaration, which I also saw in Calvin at an early age. When he said “I want Coco,” he said it in a way that I knew that he was committed. I let Calvin have Coco because it’s important for them to know that when they ask for things in that way he will get it versus “I just want it because I want it.”

I waited for the right time when Andre showed signs of maturity, to know I could trust that he could control a powerful breed. It’s a very serious commitment because a Rottweiler can easily intimidate people and have a bad reputation. But I know that my son has the knowledge to create a calm, submissive dog.

In America, most people are experts at giving affection. While we reward people for jobs well done and hand out Emmys and Oscars for achievements in entertainment, we give dogs affection for just being dogs.

Dogs in this country get more affection than anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, affection is often the only part of the equation that American dogs are getting consistently. When we meet a dog for the first time, our first instinct is to pet the dog before he has done anything to earn it. But it is important to recognize that affection that has not been earned can be detrimental to a dog, especially when that affection is nurturing an unbalanced state such as territorialism, fear, anxiety, aggression, and even excitement.

My fulfillment formula consists of three parts: Exercise, Discipline, and Affection, in that order. A dog must be exercised. In actress and comedienne Kathy Griffin’s case, Chance and Pom Pom weren’t getting the exercise they need. Of course, they have a yard and a hill they can run up and down, but that is not exercise. I found out that she has a wonderful exercise room that her dogs can use too! So while Kathy works out, her dogs run alongside her on the treadmill. And when she's out of town, her assistants help her maintain this exercise and discipline routine her dogs need. As far as dogs go, a balanced life is the best award they can get!

People often find it easier to give advice than receive it, especially if it comes from another professional in their field. It can be difficult to be open to constructive criticism. But when somebody asks me for advice, whether they are a professional or not, my goal is still the same: sharing what I have learned about energy, body language, timing, and intensity.

When working with another professional in your field, the first thing we have to remove is ego. Many professionals begin by expressing their embarrassment in asking for help. But seeking guidance from others is one of the best ways to grow and learn! I’m not embarrassed to ask for help. I’m eager to be taught. I want to be evaluated and pointed in the right direction. Even though I have experience, that doesn’t mean someone else can't see something differently or offer a solution I hadn’t thought of before. If that’s the case, I would want them to share it with me; it can only improve and expand my knowledge. I believe that every person you meet in life can teach you something.

What blocks you from learning is ego, stubbornness, or denial. I don't share advice unless it’s asked for, because it only works when the person really wants to help themselves and is willing to be open-minded. To me, being open-minded means always being willing to learn and also willing to teach. It is something I strive for in my day-to-day life. Susan Hill was a prime example of being "open minded." She was another animal professional that realized she couldn’t go any further without the help of another professional. She was open to what I had to teach her—and she taught me a few things, too!

When someone enters a new relationship, it can be a difficult adjustment for the other family members, including the dog! For example, if a woman moves in with her boyfriend and his dog, the dog may display behaviors that we interpret as evidence that the dog dislikes the woman. We often jump to blaming the newcomer for the rift, but it’s not necessarily his or her fault.

In our example, it is more likely that her boyfriend is the cause of the problem! He may have an unhealthy relationship in which the dog feels ownership over him. A dog in a submissive state loves everybody, but a dog in a dominant state can decide who he wants to be with.

So it’s not that the dog doesn’t like the woman; he’s just coming from a dominant point of view. The woman is entering this pre-existing pack, and the pack leader isn’t the one who invited her in. So naturally the dominant dog is not welcoming her, since no one asked his permission first! But it has nothing to do with her. It is the owner's responsibility to make sure that the dog is in a submissive state. That way their decision to bring a new member of the back will be respected.

If you are the newcomer and experiencing this problem, I recommend that you initially ignore the dog; just walk away. Then go back to basics. Instead of trying to force affection or attention on the dog, take him for a long walk in a neutral environment, preferably one with no link to his owner. This allows him to experience something that he's never had with the other human and can help open his heart and mind to accepting a new friend. On the walk, make sure the dog follows you. The walk always seals the deal; it is the best way to earn the dog's trust and respect. His loyalty will quickly follow!

We know you think your dog is the cat's meow, so why not let everyone else know! NGC is excited to introduce a new way for you to show off your furry friends. Check out Nat Geo Dogs: a new interactive, online community for dogs and their people.

Watch full-length video clips, share your personal puppy stories and upload pictures and a profile of your pooch to your own virtual canine brag book. Use the forums to trade training and grooming tips, find the best vet, or scout out those organic, gluten-free, non-fat dog treats!

Remember, our dogs create friendships and build communities. They help us meet our neighbors and patrol our streets. They enter our lives and become more than a pet – they’re our babies. Our family. They make us laugh out loud and break our hearts. They fascinate and frustrate us. And everyone has a dog tale to tell.

So come sit, stay and explore. And most of all, enjoy your time in this ever-growing community.

I’m a very strong believer that you don’t always get the dog you want; you get the dog you need. And even if the dog doesn’t work out for you, you still take something from the experience.

Chinese Crested Louis was a dog we rescued in Texas. We had traveled to the Lone Star State for a seminar, and it was there that I was offered this unique-looking dog. Louis had been rejected by his previous owners and was found on the freeway. He seemed fragile and very skittish, but my wife Ilusion immediately took a liking to the dog. I knew I could help him achieve balance. So, we rescued him.

Fast-forward two years later. I met a man named Ernesto who suffered from cynophobia: the fear of dogs. The two of us had been working on alleviating his fear and were even progressing to the point where I was able to bring a few of my dogs around Ernesto. When his kids came to the center, Louis gravitated to them right away, behaving calmly and submissively, like a balanced dog is supposed to.

Eventually, Ernesto and his family went looking for the perfect dog, and I felt that the chemistry and the energy between Louis and the Robles family worked. The next step was to convince my children to do what we do as a rescue group; you love them, but you also have to learn to detach from them. Louis came into our family for a reason. Now he was ready to be a balanced gift for others.